Elevator adjusting mechanism



Aug- 5, 1958 L. B. NEIGHBOUR 2,846,048

ELEVATOR ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. lO, 1956 FIG.3

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United States Patent O 2,846,048 ELEVATOR ADJUSTING MECHANISM Leonard B. Neighbour, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 10, 1.956, Serial No. 564,795 9 Claims. (Cl. 198-120.5)

This invention relates to a material conveyor of the type having a mobile frame, an elevator mounted thereon, and adjusting means between the frame and the elevator for regulating the height of the discharge end of thel elevator. More particularly this` invention relates to a power driven means for operating the adjusting means, the. power driven means being operated from an outside power source such as a tractor.

The usual type of portable conveyor has a long crop or material elevator which is mounted at its center or slightly to the rear of its center on a supporting wheel structure. The framework mounting the elevator on the supporting wheel structure is normally adjustable to regulate the angle of inclination of the elevator relative to the ground. The forward or intake end of the elevator normally rests upon the ground, and vertical adjustment of the, elevator will result in raising or lowering the dis- When the elevator is of relaadjusting the height creates no problem inasmuch as it may be done manually by a winch or other type of mechanical advantage lift mounted at theforward or intake end of the elevator. However, when using a heavier type of elevator or one of extreme length, which has become more popular in recent years, the mere mechanical advantage of a standard type winch has become insutiicient and it is desirable to obtain a power operated type of lifting mechanism for adjusting the height of the elevator.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a hydraulic lift system which may be operated from the hydraulic power source on a tractor and which is relatively simple to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.`

-It is also an object of this invention to incorporate in the above hydraulic lift system an automatic lock which will prevent the elevator from descending by its own weight.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a clutch mechanism which will operate to disengage the lift mechanism on the elevator from the hydraulic and brake systems to permit the elevator to gravitate when it is desired to lower it. Also associated with this clutch mechanism will be a speed retarding mechanism which Ywill retard the descent of the elevator when the clutch is used to release the brake and the hydraulic system.

VIncorporated in this latter mechanism will be a hand brake requiring a minimum of force to completely stop the elevator in its descent.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following detailed description illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of portions of a tractor and elevator which incorporates the subject power lift mecha- Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the power lift mechanism with portions of the housing' and'mech'anisin 'removed for purposes of clarity. i

Fig. 3Y is a plan view of portions of the power lift mechanism.

Fig.'4 is a sectional View taken along lines v4 -4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5;-5 ofFig.3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the power lift mechanism. i v AThe implement or conveyor 10 isof a conventional design; consequently description of it shallbe'mad gnerally and not'in detailand only sufricie'nt'forl purposes of fully understanding the use and operation ofthe .particular mechanism for adjusting the elevator vertically. For a more c'ompletedescription of the elevator, reference is made to U. S. Patent.2,604,203. The conveyor is made up of a fore-and-aft elongated elevator 11 supported primarily on a pair of transverselyspaced wheels 12. At the forward end of the elevator 11 is connected a hopper or dump 13 for receiving lmaterials to be elevated. A tractor 14 is positioned proximate to the forward end of the elevator and is provided with a hydraulic valve system mounted under the" valve housing 15. Included inthe hydraulic system are flexible Yconduits or hydraulic hoses 16 and 17. Also p'rovided at the forward end of the elevator is an elevator lift mechanism, later to be' explained, mounted under a safety housing 18.` I

The elevator` 11 is supported on the wheels 12 :by means of supporting framework comprising a mast 20 projecting substantiallyY upright 'from the wheel axle; a boom or derrick 21 inclined rearwardly from the Y.wheel axleand connected at its upper end to a discharge portion ,of vthe elevator 11, and a reach member`22 projecting forwardly from the wheel axle and pivotally connected at its forward end to a lower portion of the elevator 11. The mast 20 is of tubular construction having at'its upper end, in telescoping relation with the mast, av'mast extension 23. The extensionZS is provided with s uitable means for regulating the extent it may project above the upper end of the mast.

Means for raising or lowering the elevator by. adjust- Ving the angular position between the reach 22andthe derrick 21 is accomplished yby means of a cable -24 having opposite ends mounted on which pulleys 25, 26 on opposite sides of the elevator 11 and fixed to a rotatable member or shaft 27 having opposite ends extending. outwardly of the housing 18. The cable 24 extends rearwardly for connection tothe rear end portion of ,the derrick 21. The connection ofthe cable 24 may be made in any suitable manner, the preferred manner beingfhowever to extend the cable through a transverse tubular member 30 fixed at the rear of the -derrick and to the bottom of the elevator 11 thereby permitting thecable 24 to be positioned on opposite sides of `the elevator. The extension 23 of the mast 20 engages the cable midway between the tubular member 30 and the winch pulleys 2 5, 26. By rotating the member or. shaft 27 in one direction to wind the cable 24 around the Winch pulleys 25, 26, the angular displacement between the derrick 21 and reach22 is thereby reduced causing the Vangle of inclination of the elevator 11 relative tothe 3 Atthafcrwardcnd Qf.-.th.ee1evatcr 1.1 is. a hydraulic unit or motor 31 of the usual type in which there is provided a hydraulic cylinder and a reciprocating piston .,operateidby uidk passing through the, hoses 16 and 17. A hydraulic ram 32 integral with the piston projects rearwardly from the hydraulic unit 31 and is provided with a suitable mounting' elementy33 kat its rearwardmost end.

A power lift mechanism is supported on ,a rigid elongatedframe composed Yof an Aelongatediiat plate member 35 which lies adjacent to the under side of the '-"i elevator 11 and which is-rigidlyv xedto the elevator framework by means of bolts, welding, or other .suitable imeans which is not shown, thetype of connection being unimportant for purposes of this invention. At the for- ?cward' endV of Vtherigid frame and depending from the plate --35 is va Lt-shapedsection composed of a lateral underpiece 36-1which'1serves to provide lateral rigidity to two -dependingside -plates 37' and 38. At the rear end of .'.thefplate 35'z'and depending therefrom is a second U- shaped frame composed of aflaterally disposed portion 40 and two vertical sideportions 41 and 42. The side portions 41 and 42 are flanged at 43, 44, respectively, and areapertured to` receive needle bearings 28, 29, respectively, in which is journaled the shaft 27. A rota- --table part or'sprocket 45 is centrally positioned and ro- -tatably mounted on the shaft 27.A f

A shaft 46 projects through the side plates 37, 38 of the'forward U-shaped member and is suitably journaled therein. Centrally 'positioned and rotatably mounted on the shaft 46'is a second rotatable member or sprocket 47. Mounted over the sprockets 45, 47 is an endless exible element here in the form of a roller chain 48 composed of a plurality of links that are suitably connected byl ",s'paced vapart chain pins 49. The chain 48 has first or '-second, or upper and lower runs 50 and 51, respectively. i'A chain guide 52 is fixed to the under surface of the `plate 35 and is positioned adjacent to and above the upper run 50. The lower run 51 has a chain guide 53 positioned adjacent to and beneath it and extends suh- -stantially the length of the chain drive. The guide is supported at opposite ends by the cross or lateral portions 36 and 40 of the U-shaped frame sections.

A reciprocating member 60 composed of left and right hand bars 61, 62, respectively, is connected at its forward end to the mounting element 33 of the hydraulic ram 32 by means of a cross pin 63. 'Cross pieces 64, 65 are -rigidly fixed to the bars 61, 62l above and below the mounting element 33 and serve to prevent pivotal movement of the reciprocating member 60`about the pin 63.

The bars 61 and 62 extend forwardly from the hy- 'draulic ram 32 and are slotted, as at 66, to receive the shaft 46. Thelength' of the slots 66 are substantially the length of the stroke ofthe hydraulic ram. The bars 61, 62 are positioned outboard of the sprocket 47 and in- "board of the depending side portions 37 and 38 of the forward U-shaped frame member. Mounted at the forward end of the bars 61 and 62 and disposed therebetween are a pair of pawl members A70 and 71. The pawls 70 and 71 are connected to the Y fbar's 61 and 62 by means of cross pins 72, 73, respec- -'tively, which 'extend through a hub portion 74 of the pawl 70 and through a hub 75 of the pawl 71. The pawl 7l) is characterized by having, other than the hub portion 74, an upwardly and forwardly extending arm 76 shaped at its forward end as at 77 (see Fig. 6) to receive chain pins 49 of the upper run of the roller chain 48.

YThe pawl 71 is similar to the upper pawl 70 and isv characterized, other than by the hub portion 75, by having a downwardly. and rearwardly extending arm 78 shaped at its rearwardmost end to receive the chain pins 49 of the lower run 51 of the roller chains 48. VA spring 80 extends between the pawls 70 and 71 and biases the arm'76 upwardlywhile at the same time biasing the arm '78 downwardly.

In operation the pawl drive will operate the following manner. Upon extension of the ram 32 thereciproeating member 60 will also extend or move rearwardly. The slot 66 in the bars 61 and 62 will permit the member 60 to move relative to the shaft 46. Upon the rearward movement of the member 60 the pawl 70 will engage the pins 49 at the upper run 50 to drive the chain and sprockets 45, 47 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2). Likewise in the rearward stroke of the reciprocating member 60 the pawl 71 will ride over the pins 49 of the lower run 51. Upon reaching its maximum extended position and upon movement of the ram 32 and reciprocating member 60 in its retracting or forward stroke, the lower pawl 71 will engage the pins 49 of the lower run 51 thus againdriving the sprockets 45, 47 and the chain 48 in a clockwise direction. In the retracting stroke, the pawl 70 will disengage the pins 49 while returning to its forwardmost position. The spring will bias the pawls 70 and 71 and maintain them in engagement with the pins 49 lsuccessively upon tion upon either retraction or. extension of the hydraulic1 ram.

' The shaft 27 is characterized by having an enlarged portion 84 on which in turn is mounteda jaw clutch member 85 having jaw teeth 86, 87, respectively, on

opposite ends thereof. The clutch member 85 Ais provided withv an internal keyway 88 for receiving a key 89 carried by the enlargedportion 84 of the shaft. The clutch member 85 is therefore mounted for axial movement along the shaft 27.

Mounted adjacent to and inwardly of the clutch member 85 is the hub 90 of the sprocket 45. The periphery of the hub 90 is slottedfaxially, as at 91, to receive the Y teeth 86 of the jaw clutch member 85. On the opposite side of the sprocket 45 and mounted on the shaftl is an elongated rigid tubular member 92 which operates as a spacer between the enlarged portion 43 of the vertical wall 41 and the hub ofthe sprocket 45 and serves to prevent axial movement `of thev sprocket. w

The jaw clutch 85 is further characterized by having an annular slot 85a on its outside periphery. A clutch arm 92 extends upwardly from the lower plate member 40 and is characterized by having a bifurcated end 92a which tits in the slot 85a. A pair of upwardly extending lugs 93 is fixed to the upper surface of the plate 40, each being apertured to receive a fore-and-aft extending piu 94 which extends through the shank 92b of the clutch arm 92 and which provides a pivot point for operating the clutch arm. Y

On the opposite side of the jaw clutch member 85 is a brake gear 95 having a hub portion 96 with opposite edge surfaces abutting the enlarged portion 84 of the shaft 27 and the enlarged portion 44 of the depending side plate 42. The gear 95 is rotatably-mounted on the shaft 27 and is held against axial movement by the aforesaid portions 44, 84. The hub 96 has axial slots as at 97 on its outside periphery for receiving the teeth 87 of the jaw clutch 85. As in apparent in Fig.l 4 the jaw clutch 85 may Ibe moved axially along the portion 84 of the shaft 27to a'position in which both the gear 95 and sprocket 45 are engaged either singly or together.

A vertical shaft 100 extends between and is rotatably mounted on the lateral plate portions 35, 40. The shaft 100 is positioned rearwardly of the gear 95 and has a worm gear 101 fixed thereto whichl meshes with teeth of the gear 95. The shaft 100 extends through the lower plate 40 and is characterized at its lower end by having a knurled hand knob 102.

The helix angle of the spiraled threads 'on the Worm 101 is of necessity quite large and will be in the range of 20 `to 50 degrees. The teeth ofr the gear 95, meshing withfthe; thread Von the aworm 101, will cause'the worm 101 and shaft 100 to rotate upon suflicientzforce driving the gear 95. This, of course, will occur when the clutch member is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, and the weight of the elevator is utilized to drive the shaft 27 and gear 95.l However, due to the frictional resistance ybetween the teeth of the gear 95 and the spiral thread of the worm 101A, the rate of descent of the elevator will be retarded. Likewise, the descent may be completely stopped by merely gripping the knob 102.

The clutch and brake assemblies operate in the following manner. The clutch member 85 may be moved to its maximum right position, as viewed in Fig. 4, in which the c lutch will engage only the rotatable part or sprocket 45. In this position rotation of the sprocket 45 will be transmitted to the shaft 27 to cause the cable 24 to be wound upon the winch pulleys 25, 26 thereby causing the elevator to be raised. Likewise, the clutch being in this position will operate to lock the elevator at the desired position when the hydraulic unit 31 ceases to operate, this being true inasmuch as the pawls 70, 71 will operate to prevent clockwise rotation of the sprockets 45, 46 vand chain 50 when the hydraulic unit 31 is not in operation. Upon it being desired to lower the elevator, the clutch member 85 must be moved to the left,

ras v iewed in Fig. 4, where it will completely disengage the sprocket 45. In this position of the clutch member 85, the elevator will be restricted in its rate of descent lby the speed reducing or retarding elements or gears 95, 100, 101. Also, when it is desired to so do, hand pressure may be applied to the knurled knob 102 to stop the descent or to ease the elevator downwardly to its exact desired position.

While only one form of the invention has been shown it should be recognized that other forms and variations could exist without departing basically from the broad general principles herein disclosed. It should therefore be understood that while the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with the view of clearly and concisely illustrating its principles, it is desired not to so limit or narrow the invention beyond that which is claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. In a material conveyor including a frame structure, an elevator mounted thereon, and adjusting means between the elevator and structure for positioning the elevator vertically; a frame supported on the elevator; a drive shaft mounted on the frame; means connecting the shaft to the adjusting means whereby said adjusting means will react upon rotation of the shaft in one direction to raise the elevator and upon rotation in the opposite direction to lower the elevator; spaced apart rotatable parts, one of the parts being mounted on the frame and the other part being mounted for relative rotation on the drive shaft; an endless exible element mounted over the parts and having oppositely disposed first and second runs; a reciprocating element mounted on the elevator; means connecting the reciprocating element to the runs whereby the reciprocating element will successively -drive the runs upon respective alternate strokes thereof thereby driving the rotatable parts in a given direction; a member rotatable on the shaft; means on the frame associated with the member for retarding rotation thereof; and clutch means on the shaft for selectively engaging said other rotatable part to cause the latter to rotate the shaft in said one direction, said clutch means being operative upon disengagement from said other part to automatically engage the rotatable member to retard descent of the elevator.

2. In a material conveyor including a frame structure, an elevator mounted thereon, and adjusting means between the elevator and structure for positioning the elevator vertically; a frame supported on the elevator; a drive shaft mounted on the frame; means connecting the shaft to the adjusting means whereby said adjusting means will react upon rotation of the shaft in one direction to raise the elevator and upon rotation in the opposite direction to lower the elevator; spaced apart rotatable parts, one of the parts being mountedV on the frame and the other part being mounted for relative rotation on the drive shaft; an endless flexible element mountedover the parts and having oppositely disposed first and second runs; a reciprocating element mounted on the elevator; means connecting the reciprocating element to the runs whereby the reciprocating element will successively drive the runs upon respective alternate strokes thereof thereby driving the rotatable parts in a given direction and restricting rotation of the parts in the opposite direction; a member rotatable on the shaft; means on the frame associated with the member for retarding rotation thereof; and clutch means on the shaft for selectively engaging said other rotatable part to cause the latter to rotate the shaft in said one direction when the reciprocating element is in operation and to lock the shaft against rotation when the reciprocating element Vis not in operation, said clutch means being operative upon disengagement from said other part to automatically engage the rotatable member to retard descent of the elevator.

3. In a material conveyor including a frame structure, an elevator mounted thereon, and adjusting means between the elevator and structure for positioning the elevator vertically; a frame supported on the elevator; a drive shaft mounted on the frame; means connecting the shaft to the adjusting means whereby said adjusting means will react upon rotation of the shaft in one direction to raise the elevator and upon rotation in the opposite direction to lower the elevator; spaced apart sprockets, one of the sprockets being mounted on the frame and the other sprocket being mounted for relative rotation on the drive shaft; an endless drive chain mounted over the sprockets and having oppositely disposed runs; a reciprocating element mounted on the elevator; means connecting the reciprocatingellement tothe runs whereby the reciprocating element will successively drive the runs upon respective alternate strokes thereof thereby rotating the sprockets in a given direction and restricting rotation of the sprockets in the opposite direction; and clutch means on the shaft for selectively engaging said other sprockets to cause the latter to rotate the shaft in said one direction when the reciprocating element is in operation and to lock the shaft against rotation when the reciprocating element is not in operation.

4. In a material conveyor including a frame structure, an elevator mounted thereon, and adjusting means between the elevator and structure for positioning the elevator vertically; a frame supported on the elevator; a drive shaft mounted on the frame; means connecting the shaft to the adjusting means whereby said adjusting means will react upon rotation of the shaft in one direction to raise the elevator and upon rotation in the opposite direction to lower the elevator; a part mounted for relative rotation on the drive shaft; means on the elevator operative to rotate said part in said one direction of rotation and to prevent rotation of said part in said opposite direction of rotation; a member rotatable on the shaft; means on the frame associated with the member for retarding rotation thereof; and clutch means on the shaft for selectively engaging the rotatable part to cause the part and shaft to operate in unison, and upon disengagement of said rotatable part to automatically engage said rotatable member thereby retarding descent of the elevator.

5. In a material conveyor including a frame structure, an elevator mounted thereon, and adjusting means between the elevator and structure for positioning the elevator vertically; a frame supported on the elevator; a drive shaft mounted on the frame; means connecting the shaft to the adjusting means whereby said adjusting means will react upon rotation of the shaft in one direction to raise the elevator and upon rotation in the opposite direction to lower the elevator; a part mounted for relative rotation on the drive shaft; means on the elevator operative to rotate saidipart in said one direction of rotadirection of rotation; a membenrotatable on the shaft;

means on the frame associated with the member for retarding rotation thereof; and clutch means on the shaft operative in a first position to engage the rotatable part to cause the part and shaft to operate in unison, and' in a second position to engage said rotatable member thereby retarding descent ofthe elevator.

6. In a material conveyor including a frame structure, an elevator mounted thereon, and adjusting'means between the elevator and structure for positioning the elevator vertically; a frame supported on the elevator; a drive shaft mounted on the frame; means connecting the shaft to the adjusting means whereby said adjusting means will react upon rotation ofthe shaft in one direction to raise the elevator and upon rotation in the opposite direction to lower the elevator; spaced apart sprockets, one of the sprockets being rotatably mounted on the frarne and the other sprocket being mounted for relative rotation on the drive shaft; an endless drive chain mounted over the sprockets and having upper and lower runs; a reciprocating element mounted on the elevator; rst and second pawls connecting the reciprocating element to the upper and lower runs respectively whereby the reciprocating element will drive the respective runs upon alternate strokes thereof thereby driving the `sprockets in a given direction, and to lock the sprockets against rotation upon the reciprocating element not being in operation; a member rotatable on the shaft, means on the frame associated with the member for retarding rotation thereof; and clutch means on the shaft for selectively engaging said other sprocket to cause the latter sprocket to operate in unison with the shaft, said clutch means being operative to engage said rotatable member to said drive shaft to retard descent of the elevator.

7. The invention defined in claim 6, in which the rotatable member is1 a gear, the retarding means is in the form of aispeed-retarding gear drive operative-from the gear; and the clutchmeans is in the form of a member non- -rotatably mounted on but slidable axially along the drive shaft "and'operative to selectively engage said other sprocket orfsaid gear.

8. The inventxonfdetine'd in claim 7, further'character- 'ized by a hand-operated brake means connected to the speed-retarding gear drive and operative to regulate the speed-retarding effect of the geardrive.

9. In a material conveyor including a frame structure,

an elevator mounted'thereon, andadjusting means between the elevator and structure for positioning the elevator vertically; a frame supported on the elevator; a drive'shaft mounted on the frame; means connecting the shaft to the adjusting means whereby said adjusting means will react upon rotation of the shaft to vertically adjust the elevator; a part mounted for relative rotation on the drive shaft; means on the elevator operative to rotate said part; a member rotatable on the shaft; means on the frame associated with .the member for retarding rotation thereof; and clutch means on the shaft operative in a first position to engage the rotatable part to cause ther part and shaft Vto operate in unison, and in a second position to engage said Vrotatable member thereby retard' ingdescent of the elevator.

References Cited inthe-*Ele of patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 320,233 Euis June 1e, 1385 2,642,175 Mahoney June 16, 1953 2,722,129 Randolph Nov. 1, s

v FOREIGN- PATENTS 695,359 Great Britain Aug. 12. 1953 

